GOLF

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20103, 9 May 1935, Page 6

GOLF

NOTES AND COMMENTS By “Mashie” There has been formed recently in England a Professional Golf Instructors’ Association; which is endeavouring to standardise tuition. Many players at Home have complained that thenprofessional, good and renowned player though he be. could not put clearly before a pupil the correct methods of stroke production. Certain fundamentals are laid down; but it is understood that individual physique and temperament will modify these, for it is recognised that every player has his own natural style. So far the Association has agreed that the fundastood that individual mentals for the swing are:— 1. The grip which should allow hands and wrists to remain in a state of flexibility. The hands should form two inverted *‘V’s”. 2. The legs (or more correctly, the lower extremities) must be relaxed. 3. The position of the ball in relation to the feet. With the driver, the ball should be opposite the left heel and with the mashie-nibblick opposite the right heel. Intermediate distances for the clubs in between. (This is exactly as advised by Gene Sarazen.) 4. The 4th fundamental is' “Ankle Roll,” which is described as “The grip of the ground with the inner side of the foot,” and is rather obscure. 5. “Hip Shift” or “Weight Transference,” which goes hand in hand with: 6. “The Pivot.” and both should be caused by swinging the club head. At the end of the pivot the left knee, hip and shoulder are in an approximate line opposite the ball. These are the fundamentals of the upswing. The rules for downswing are to follow later. If you are hopelessly off your game, do not despair—some hint from a professional or from watching another player may just put you right. This story concerns J. de Forest, British Amateur Championship winner at Muirfield some years ago. A friend of his, and an international golfer, S. L. McKinlay, tells how before the event de Forest was hopelessly off his game and was utterly dejected. They chartered a taxi the night before play began —“Anywhere!” they told the driver, who wisely dropped them at a picture theatre. They went in. McKinley was doUng when de Forest suddenly jumped into the aisle shouting “I’ve got it!” On the screen was one of Bobby Jones’s cinema golf shorts. Some hint, some trick of the swing, had suddenly dawned on de Forest. He left the theatre immediately in a state of elation and went to win the championship. de Forest is an extremely nervous player, who lies on the ground studying the line of putts, flies a large handkerchief to study the direction of the wind, stands graven like a statue over his ball, unable to commence his swing for minutes on end, and in all ways a very touchy young gentleman. On the King’s Birthday week-end June 1-3, the Timaru Golf Club will stage a three days’ tournament. Daylight is short at this time of the year, but under the capable direction of Mr W. J. Cotterill every player is assured of adequate time. Numerous outside entries have already been received. On the afternoon of June 1 there will be a match handicap. Timaru Club v. Visitors, on the morning of June 2, a bogey handicap and in the afternoon a 4-ball bogey, while June 3 will see the South Canterbury championship, with its accompanying medal handicaps and teams’ match, decided. Events are in three grades, senior, intermediate and junior. Entries close on May 28 with Mr W. J. Cotterill. The

entry fees are very reasonable, and this should be one of the events of the year. Little fault can be found with the above programme; but a foursome on the afternoon of June 2 would have advantages over the four-ball event. With two balls in play it makes a faster game, it would give players an earlier finish in preparation for their two testing medal rounds on June 3, and it would give the ground staff a chance to cut new holes, etc., in accordance with the rules. The four bell, much in favour locally, is inferior to the foursame as a golf test. The last number of English “Golf Illustrated,” commenting editorially on a professional four ball match, says—“ But what a pity to make it a four ball. A foursome, yes, or a single. But there is too much lack of responsibility in a four ball and consequently far too much hit or miss element for it to be a seriour form of golf.” Caithness and Tonkin absolutely spread-eagled the field at Highfield on Saturday. Both played well below their handicaps, and their return 13 up, left lamenting those whose cards showed a mere 9. 8. or 7 up, Both these players should soon earn reductions-. G. A. Ussher demonstrated his quality at Gleniti. First time out on the course, with a howling wind and bitter cold, he returned a 78, following this on Monday with another 78 and better still, a medal 75. A capital performance. To score so well on a strange course, as “Mashie” has mentioned before, is the test of scratch or nearly scratch player. A. L. Marshall has commenced play for the season. A pretty player, who knows more of the correct use of slice and draw than any other player in these parts. He is always worth watching, possessing a full free swing. J. Woollam won the English close championship, defeating Eric Fiddian. Woollam has won this event before, As so often happens, both played very poorly in the final. Oamaru defeated Timaru Club on Monday. A very successful outing for all. Gleniti Club carried through a successful tournament, in spite of a cold wind. P. Sinclair and O. Robertson did well to finish sup on bogey. One up won the bogey and the standard scratch score had to be beaten to win a medal event. This was very good scoring under the severe conditions. Miss B. Rutherford won the Otago Championship, defeating Mrs Dodgson in the semi-final and Mrs Carr in the final. She is playing at the top of her form. The following reduction in handicap have been made—R. Moyes to 12/9, H. Washer to 14/11, L. Tozer to 16/12, A. Ross to 16/12, J. Wallace to 17/13. Winners of the week-end matches at North End were men’s medal: W. Reid; men’s bogey: A. R. Clark; women’s bogey: Mrs Barnard. Last Saturday a very interesting match was played at North End between Geraldine and North End, the result being a draw—l2 games each. Mr G. N. Feilden of Geraldine, returned thanks on behalf of the visitors and congratulated their hosts on the condition of their course.

TIMARU CLUB The following is the draw for the Wright Cup Mixed Foursomes to be played at Highfield on Saturday:— North East, 12.30 p.m.—Miss Waddell and Cockroft v. Mrs Kerr and E. G. Kerr; Miss O’Callaghan and Gamble v. Miss Horwell and Davies; Mrs Minifie and Green v. Mrs Hawkes and A. J. Allport; Miss Fair and Marshall v. Mrs J. A. Scott and Cunningham; Mrs Horwell and Horwell v. Mrs Mantell and N. C. Martin; Mrs W. J. Foote and W. J. Foote v. Miss Stewart and Holmes; Mrs Knowles and Knowles v. Miss McKerchar and Steven; Miss Cuthbertson and E. A. Scott v. Miss J. Cuthbertson and Mackay; Mrs Caithness and Caithness v. Miss McCallum and Fearn; Miss Holdgate and Harris v. Mrs Skinner and Skinner; Mrs A. C. Martin and Martin v. Mrs Brewer and Mcßeath; Mrs Blue and Baird v. Mrs W. A. Scott and R. Jones; Miss Pringle and Walton v. Miss Loughnan and J. M. Kerr; Mrs O’Callaghan and Barker v. Miss Torlesse and Torlesse; Miss G. Campbell and Webster v. Miss Neill and Forbes. Port Arthur, 12.45 p.m.—Mrs O’Leary and Lynch v. Mrs Grant and Houlihan; Mrs Innes-Jones and Innes-Jones v.| Miss Morgan and J. Moyes; Mrs Hunter and Holdgate v. Mrs Kingston and Kingston; Miss J. Brewer and Sinclair v. Miss Rattray and F. G. Raymond; Mrs Priest and Sullivan v. Mrs Tonkin and Tonkin; Miss Tait and Beswick v. Mrs Fair and Fair; Miss Manchester and D. Moyes v. Mrs McClelland and McClelland; Miss E. Fraser and Lawson v. Miss V. Campbell- and C. B. Kerr; Mrs Johnston and Johnston v. Miss Clark and Crawshaw; Mrs M. G. Bruce and H. R. Scott v. Miss Clfssqld and Boyle; Mrs C. S. Bruce and Bruce v. Mrs Dobie and Dobie; Mrs Guy and Guy v. Mrs Kemshed and Kemshed. Players go off in order of draw. Ladies drive from odd tees. Ladies’ green to be played at Hole 14. Terrace. NORTH END The following will represent North End against Gleniti at North End on Saturday.—Ayres, Arnold, I. J. Bradley, Barnard, A. R. Clark, Edyman, Grant, Kellett, Knight, Mason, Moyes, McKitterick, O’Meeghan, Provan. Ross, Shillito, Stevens, Tozer, Vesty, Washer. Emergencies: R. Reid. Wallace. Mrs Cox, Miss Sullivan, Mrs Washer, Mrs Kellett, Miss Grant, Mrs Edyman. Mrs Barnard, Mrs Bradley, Miss C. Wilson, Miss Pryor. Emergencies: Miss Robertson. Mrs Clark.

GLEN-ITI CLUB The following is the team to play North End at North End on Saturday: J. Menzies jnr., B. T. Loburn, J. C. Kay, C. W. Steele, G. S. Carmichael, J. Menzies senr., E. M. Hobin, D. Crosbie, O. L. Robertson, E. J. Thompson, R. G. Slade. H. R. Parker, L. M. Provan, W. Mantell, E. Lawrence, J. H. Healey, J. S. Satterthwaite, J. Macdonald, D. Todd, L. Collins. Emergencies: S. Glazer, J. Warsaw, Miss Bradley, Mrs Robertson, Miss Sellwood, Miss D. Beck, Miss Robertson, Miss Macaulay, Mrs Cunningham, Miss Morgan, Miss Grant, Miss C. Beck. Emergencies: Uiss Bowen and Mrs Crosbie.